Food for Thought

ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2011) — A new research report published online in The FASEB Journal suggests that pregnant mothers who eat high sugar and high fat diets have babies who are likely to become junk food junkies themselves. According to the report, which used rats, this happens because the high fat and high sugar diet leads to changes in the fetal brain’s reward pathway, altering food preferences.

Not only does this offer insight into the ever-increasing rate of human obesity, but it may also explain why some people easily resist fatty and sugary foods, while others seem hopelessly addicted.

“These results will help us to better help women about diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding for giving their infants the best start in life,” said Beverly Muhlhausler, Ph.D., co-author of the study from the FOODplus Research Centre in the School of Agriculture Food and Wine at the University of Adelaide in Adelaide, Australia. For more information about this discovery, go to www.sciencedaily.com.

Not only should you eat well while pregnant, but while breastfeeding as well. I personally don’t recommend the use of formula. Some women have to use formula for various reasons. What is formula? Well it is what it says it is. It’s a synthetic compound of chemicals mixed with usually cow’s milk. Many infants have a hard time digesting formula due to their sensitive stomachs. Studies have shown that the colic in a breastfeed baby isn’t as severe (if at all) as a baby who may have been formula fed. Also, before there is milk from the breast, there is colostrum, which helps protect the baby with nourishment and antibodies. Colostrum is liquid gold to newborns.

Eating disorders are on the rise. They are often caused by underlying psychological conditions, like disliking body image, and not having enough control in one’s life. Anorexia erodes the bones, and bulimia may cause heart attacks. It is important not to stress over losing weight, to the point that it consumes your every waking thought. Confide in a Mature friend and/or doctor, and take appropriate steps to receive necessary treatment. Stay away from those magazines with retouched photos…trust, I know. Love yourself, because each of us are unique special individuals. Now when it comes to binge eating without purging, try walking more. Purchase a treadmill if you think it will help. Slowly increase more exercise in your daily life, and slowly change the junk that you might normally binge to health food. Try to shop more from the perimeter of the grocery store. Slowly stock up more on healthy food from the grocery store and buy less junk food. Therefore you have no choice but to reach for something healthy when you are hungry. 😉

I have always loved the correlation of science and technology, and will find a way to inculcate both into my blog. I feel that science and technology is extremely important especially when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle!